Two way X-ray tilt table



NOV. 26, 1940. w, HAUPT 2,222,888

TWO WAY X-RAY TILT TABLE Filed March 15, 19:59 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I J 5- m w M #W? BY w ATT EY.

Nov. 26,- 1940. w. H. HAUPT TWO WAY X-YRAY TILT TABLE Filed March 15, was Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. r A 0 Nov. 26, 1940. w HAUPT 2,222,888

TWO WAY X-RAY TILT TABLE Filed March 15, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENT OR.

Patented Nov. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TWO WAY X-RAY TILT TABLE Application March 15, 1939, Serial No. 262,002

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a two-way X-ray tilt table.

One object of the invention is to provide a table that will be more convenient for use in offices and treatment rooms where the floor space is limited, so that by the convenience provided in that the table tilts both ways, it will not be necessary to block passageways or make awkward arrangements to accommodate the tilting of the table.

Another object is to provide a double tilt table to avoid shifting badly injured patients during the physicians efforts to inspect them at all angles. This convenience is material also in the case of seriously ill or even slightly ill patients. Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of the tilt table.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation and shows the rear apron cut away to permit a view of the table top in its erect position at the right. On the left the table top lifted to an erect position is shown in dotted line.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the table.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the table, the rear apron being partially broken away to show the lifting mechanism. The dotted lines show a position which may be assumed by the table.

Figure 5 is an end view of the table, taken from the right of Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing the electric circuit used to govern the table.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail in side elevation of the means provided to lock and unlock the tilting element of the table to its support.

In the first three figures, I0 is a primary supporting structure or frame which in Figure l is partially hidden by a heavy apron ll. I2 is the table top of deep and substantial construction, whichin this invention, can be caused to be tilted to either left or right. It is entirely conventional except for the feature which provides for the double tilting. The table top I2 is conventional except for features which enable it to be tilted to the vertical in both directions without departing from the conventional height of an ordinary tilt table. Such a new construction necessitates providing the table top l2 with the pivots l3 and it both of which may be seen on Figs. 2 and 4. The table top may be provided with the ordinary traversible Bucky diaphragm l5 and its switch IS. The table top also carries the conventional stand I! for radiographic and fluoroscopic tube and screen (not shown) also the locking levers and handles 19 and 20 respectively for the tube carriage. Below the table top there is provided the conventional guard 2| which serves to screen off the X-rays from the operators. In Figure 2 an apron 22 similar in construction to that shown in Figure 1 is provided at the rear of the table. The function of aprons l l and 22 is to support the pivots l3 and I4 and to provide as well against the scattering of the X-rays. Electrical current from a transformer (not shown) is transmitted to the X-ray tube (not shown) by means of cables 23 and 24 which enter the side of the table top.

The immediate means by which the .table top is tilted is two pairs of toggle links 25 and 26, of which the former is the longer and which is connected to the table top to be tilted. The forward pair of such links on Figure 4 obscure the rearward pair which are in a corresponding position on the other side of the table. The primary source of power to move the toggle links is an electric motor 21 which is mounted at the bottom of the primary supporting structure H]. A speed reducer 28 is mounted adjacent to the motor near the lower middle of the supporting structure Hi. It is preferably of the worm type but the drive is taken off through a pair of spur gears 29, of which the rear one is on the opposite side of the table from the other, this arrangement causing the front gear 29 to obscure the rear one. The spur gears are in mesh with a pair of large spur gears 30, one of which is mounted y means of a short shaft 3| to apron II. The other is mounted on the apron 22 in a corresponding position. The gears and the driving pinions such as 29 are necessary in order to lift the table top equally from both sides .to prevent cocking. Large spur gears 30 each mesh with one of a pair of other large spur gears 32 of which there is also one on each side of the table. Such gears are rotatably mounted on the aprons II and 22 near the top thereof, the rearmost gear 3k -n Figure 3 is obscured by the foremost one.

The shorter toggle links 26 are each rigidly and radially attached to one of gears 32 by means of pins 33 and 34. The toggle links 26 are each, therefore, compelled to rotate in unison with the gears 32. The points of attachment for the links 25 to the table top l2 are the pins 35 about which the longer toggle links 25 are adapted to swing. Pins 35 are located in the middle of the length of the table top and vertically at such a point as to make possible the proportions between the links as will now be given. The sum of the lengths of the links of each pair of toggle links is equal to the distance from the centers of gears 32 to points 35 when the table is vertical. By reason of such relations, thelengths form a straight line when the table top is vertical and a continued driving action will tend to return the table to horizontal rather than to overthrow it.

The difference between the lengths of the two links in each pair of toggle links is equal to the distance from the centers of the gears 32 to points 35 when the table is horizontal. This relation provides the only way that the links can pass over the center of gears 32 with no tendency to raise or lower the table. tion point which is pin 36 are shrouded by a guard 31 which is made of light sheet material and the function of which is to give warning if the operators arm or fingers are in a position in which they might be mangled while the links are descending past the aprons. The guard 31 is provided with a pair of internal lugs 38 which come in contact with the toggle links which cause the guard to be driven by the toggle links while the links are passing through the lower part of their cycle, by which action the guard is prevented from interfering with the action of the links.

Mounted along the sides of the primary supporting structure Hi there is an automatic pivot shifting and locking mechanism. This mechanism also duplicates on the further side of the table. It comprises a two-way solenoid 40, in which there is an iron core II which is tightly attached to a non-magnetic rod 42. Upon each end of the supporting structure It) there is a socket or depression 10 which is adapted to accommodate a pivot I3 or H. Upon each end of rod 42 there is mounted a sliding block, preferably brass, which is adapted by reason of the action of the solenoid to lock either pivot [3 in its depression or M in its depression, 'but never both simultaneously. The selective action is obtained through the electrical connections of the table for which reference is had to Figure 6. In the diagram, motor switch corresponds to the left hand member of Figure 4 which is designated 50, and motor switch 5| corresponds to the right hand member on Figure 4 designated 5|. These switches are attached at the extreme top ends of structure It! for operation and contact with the sliding blocks 43. Such position is selected only for convenience since any other part of the moving members associated with rod 42 could also be selected. Rod 42 is, of course, shorter than the entire length of the supporting structure III by a difference equal to the distance between the inner ends of swtiches 50 and 5| to the inner limit of the pivot socket. The ratio is chosen so that one pair of pivot sockets will be open while the other pair is locked.

The circuit shown in Fig. 6 is arranged as follows: 51 are the mains of a power supply, say of 110 volts. One main is carried directly to a special switch which is of the momentary contact three pole double-throw type 53. This switch is adapted to start a reversible motor 21, which is provided with two sets of leads, which altho they are all energized while the motor runs, are capable of running it reversibly by means of changed phase relations as controlled by switch 53. The latter is mounted upon apron ll (Fig. 1) where it is under the hand of the operator. When the switch is thrown to the left, the motor 21 will operate so as to tilt the table top counterclockwise and when thrown to the right, clockwise.

55 is a relay adapted to close or open four contacts simultaneously and thereby close or open the motor circuits. Energization of the motor is thus controlled, but this element has nothing to do with the direction of rotation. Current to The links at their junc the solenoid 56 of the relay 55 is controlled by the limit switches 50 and 5|. Unless one of them is closed, the motor cannot operate.

Auxiliary leads from switch 53 go to the solenoid designated by 43 on Fig. 4. When the switch is in a position to tilt the table in a clockwise direction the solenoid on the right will be energized providing pivot II has not yet been raised out of depression 52. Raising pivot I4 out of depression 52 opens the magnet circuit at switch 58 so that the solenoid is no longer energized. Upon reversing the direction of rotation of the motor through switch 53 the solenoid 43 on the left end of the table will be in the circuit to be energized and will be energized as soon as pivot M has re-entered depression 52 causing the locking bar to move. As soon as the locking bar 42 has moved away from motor switch 5| the motor circuit will broken until it is re-established through the locking bar closing switch 50 upon the completion of its travel. As the motor continues to operate it will raise the table in a counter-clockwise direction lifting pivot I3 out of its depression which in turn will open the magnet switch 59 on the right end of the table de-energizing the magnet as before.

In order to operate the table, the operator therefore simply places the patient on the table top while the latter is horizontal and then holds switch 53 either to the right or to the left according to whether he wishes to elevate the patients feet or head. When the table top has reached the desired inclination, the operator releases the switch 53 to neutral position, which is automatically assumed.

A safety feature which, while very desirable, is not absolutely essential to the functioning of the table, concerns four locking levers, two of which are shown as 60 and 6| in Fig. 4. The function of these levers is to close and open the solenoid-controlling limit switches 58 and 53. The latter are normally open as shown in Fig. 6. The levers referred to are pivoted at 62 and 63 to the frame ID at the inner side thereof and are so shaped that when they are raised their flat ends 64 and 65 are able to block endwise movement of the bar 42. This insures a secure working axis for the table at all times with no danger of unlocking. For convenience in illustration, these levers have been shown in Fig. 4 as mounted upon the outside of the frame. The bends in levers 60 and 6| actuate limit switches 56 and 59, of which there need not be more than two, by contact as shown in Fig. 4.

Each lever is provided with a spur 66-61, respectively which is to be struck by pivot l3 or H as it descends. Such action depresses the lever and closes one of the limit switches 53-53. The magnet coil's or solenoid 40 cannot however be actuated until both limit switches are closed. It follows therefore that the solenoid can be energized only when both pivots are on their depressions and not, as would otherwise be the case, whenever the motor is running.

A spring 6363 is provided for each locking lever to return same to locking position when the pivot is lifted from the socket.

I claim as my invention:-

1. In an X-ray tilt table a frame, an apron at each side of said frame, sockets in each apron near the ends thereof, a table top, pivots laterally projecting from the sides thereof and adapted to fit within said sockets, locking means to retain selectively one pair of said pivots within one pair of said sockets at a time at one end of said frame,

an electric motor within said frame, a gear train adapted to transmit power for lifting said table top, a spur gear being the last gear of said train, two pairs of toggle links being attached to said table top and said frame at opposite sides thereof intermediate of the ends of said top and frame, said link pairs comprising long and short members pivoted together, the short members bein attached to said final spur gear to function as cranks to lift said table top selectively at either end by reversing the direction of rotation of said motor.

2. A tilt table according to claim 1 having in addition a magnet switch adjacent one of each pair of sockets, each of said switches being actuable by the weight of a pivot in the said sockets, a locking bar extensible over one of said sockets at a time, solenoids controlled by the motor switches for moving said locking bar over said sockets, a motor switch adjacent one of each pair of sockets and actuable by said locking bar to render motor operation impossible until one or the other of said pairs of pivots are locked into their sockets.

3. In an X-ray apparatus of the tilt table type, a frame, a table bed supported by said frame, a pivot projecting from said bed at each end from the sides thereof, sockets in said frame at each end thereof into which said pivots may fit, means including a reversible electric motor, a train of gears and two pairs of links for raising and lowering said table, a locking bar extensible over said sockets when the latter are occupied by said pivots, a locking lever pivotally mounted adjacent to two or more of said sockets, solenoid-controlling limit switches mounted so as to be actuable by said levers whereby the presence of a pivot in a socket closes a limit switch and only the presence of two pivots in their sockets at each end of the table renders the solenoid actuable whereby a pair of pivots is locked in position whenever either end of the table top is raised in relation to the frame.

4. In an X-ray apparatus of the tilt-table type, a frame, a. table bed supported by said frame, a pivot projecting from said bed at each end from the sides thereof, sockets in said frame at each end thereof into which. said pivots may fit, means including a reversible electric motor, a train of gears and two pairs of links for raising and lowering said table, a locking bar extensible over said sockets when the latter are occupied by said pivots, a locking lever pivotally mounted adjacent to each of two or more of said sockets,

solenoids controlling said locking levers, solenoidcontrolling limit switches mounted so as to be actuable by said levers whereby the presence of a pivot in a socket closes a limit switch and only the presence of two pivots in their sockets at each end of the table renders the solenoid actuable simultaneously with and from the same energy source as the motor, so that when the motor is running to raise the table to the left, the solenoids on the left will unlock the locking lever upon the left and vice versa.

WALTER H. HAUPT. 

